Moses
Who:
a. Moses: The meaning
of the name Moses is uncertain but has been related to a rare Hebrew
verb, meaning, "to draw out." Yet, Pharaoh’s daughter named him.
Gave him a “rare” Hebrew name?
i.
Moses was "drawn-out" of the water.
ii.
Other have suggested that Moses means "water-child"
b. Moses was the
chosen leader of the Israelite nation who directed them as they were
delivered out of Egypt by the hand of God.
What:
a. Moses was a
chosen leader.
i.
God chose Moses to go in to Egypt and bring the Israelites out.
(Exodus 3:7-10).
b. Moses was the
inspired writer of the first five books of the Old Testament.
i. God commanded Moses
to write (Exodus 17:14)
c. Moses also
received the Ten Commandments from God (Exodus 20).
d. Moses led the
people of Israel out of Egypt and across the wilderness up to the
boarders of the Land of Canaan but did not enter himself (Deuteronomy
34:1-7).
Where:
a. The name Moses is
mentioned 770 times in the Old Testament between Exodus 2:10
and Malachi 4:4.
i.
No other man, recorded in the scriptures, wore the name Moses.
b. His
birth Exodus 2:1-10
c. His time of
calling Exodus 3:1-10
d. Moses goes
to Pharaoh Exodus 5
e. The Ten
Plagues Exodus 7:16-12:30
f. Israel
leaves Egypt Exodus 12:30-41
g. Israel
crosses the Red Sea Exodus 14:20-31
h. Moses
receives the ten commandments Exodus 20
i. The various
laws are stated Exodus 21-31
j. Moses
dies Deuteronomy 34-1-7
k. By faith
Moses... Hebrews 11:24-28
When:
a. Moses was 80 years
of age when the Israelites made their exodus from Egypt. If the
estimates of 1280 B.C. are correct for this departure then according
to the scriptures Moses would have been born in 1360 B.C. and then
called to service in 1280 B.C.
b. He wandered the
wilderness with the Israelites for another 40 years and died at the
age of 120 years (Deuteronomy 34:1-7) approximately 1240 B.C.
Why:
a. Moses was a man of
immeasurable faith.
i.
But, very much like you and I, Moses had fears that from time to time
held him back.
b. Moses was one who
walked with God.
c. Moses is one of
the most recognized Bible characters second only to Jesus. Aaron:
Aaron
Who:
a. The meaning of Aaron's name is uncertain.
The roots found in his name have something todo with a "ark",
"mountaineer", "light"
any of them might be twisted to fit Aaron but it is probably just his
name
b. Aaron
is the brother of Moses. The great-grandson of Levi.
What:
a. Introduced as one who would speak on Moses'behalf Exodus
4:10-18
b. Aaron, and his sons, set apart to be priests for the all the
people Exodus 28, 29
c.
Aaron was High Priest and his sons were priests after him.
Where:
a. Like Moses his brother Aaron was an exclusive owner of his name.
Aaron's
name is mentioned many times in the Old Testament (322 times),
b. Aaron called to service
Exodus 4: 27:31
c. Aaron speaks before
Pharaoh Exodus 7:1-7
b. Aaron begins to show
signs of God's power Exodus 7:8-13
c. Aaron is called to
be the priest Exodus 28, 29
d. Aaron speaks against
Moses and is rebuked Numbers 12
e. Aaron's sons
destroyed Leviticus 10:1-3
When:
a. Aaron was three
years older than Moses and was his brother. They lived during the same
time approximately 1357 B.C. to 1240 B.C. Aaron, like his brother
Moses, were taken from this life before the people could enter the
land because they had rebelled against God during the journey (Number
20:22-29).
b. Aaron was 123
years of age when he died (Numbers 33:29)
Why:
a. Aaron was the
first priest, the mediator between God and the people:
b. His strength was
in God and he did as God commanded.
Miriam:
Who:
a. Meaning of the name Miriam is undetermined.
There are two Hebrew root words found in her name
i. Some suggest that it means, "star of the sea"
ii. other have suggested that the meaning is, 'plump one."
b. Miriam is the older
sister of Moses and Aaron.
What:
a. Miriam wisely provided for her brother Moses by going to get
their mother to care for him. (Exodus 2:7-9).
b. She is first called
by name in the scriptures in Exodus 15:20 as they celebrated the
triumph over the Egyptians.
c. Numbers 12:1-15
Miriam is made an example of because she spoke against Moses.
Where:
a. Miriam helps her baby brother—Moses Exodus
2:7-9
b. Miriam and
the women rejoice in victory Exodus 15:20-21, 19
c. Miriam, becomes
leprous, as an example Number 12:1-15
d. Miriam dies in
Kadesh Numbers 20:1
e. Miriam listed in a
genealogy Numbers 26:59
f. Miriam's example
taught to the people Deuteronomy 24:9
g. Miriam spoken of as
one sent from God Micah 6:4
When:
a. Miriam was older than Moses and, we might guess, older than Aaron.
i.
The reason that I have suggest the latter is because Miriam was old
enough to approach Pharaoh' s daughter to suggest getting a maid from
the people for her. Since Aaron was only three older than Moses it is
unlikely that Miriam is in between Moses and Aaron in age.
b. Miriam was older
than Moses who was born approximately 1360 B.C.
i.Miriam died during the wanderings in the wilderness some time
between 1280 and 1240 B.C.
Why:
a. Miriam was not a very significant character in the Old Testament,
but the things that she did were significant for the people.
i. She was used by God to provide for the people.
Her example of becoming leprous will for ever
seal the words that Moses recorded as truly part of God's word.
Pharaoh
Who:
a. Pharaoh means: it is a title designating the ruler of Egypt.
b We might see Pharaoh
as a villain who spoke against God and oppressed
the people.
i.
This description, however, belongs to certain Pharaohs.
a) Remember the
Pharaoh who ruled when Joseph first came to Egypt was a fair, loyal
and just ruler who provided for the people.
ii One of the
Pharaohs who followed him was a tyrant
c. There were two
main Pharaohs recorded in the scriptures.
i.
The Pharaoh when Joseph arrived.
ii. The Pharaoh who rose up and oppressed the people of Israel.
Joshua
Who:
a. Meaning of the
name Joshua is "Jehovah is salvation")
b. The scriptures
speak of this particular Joshua as, "the son of Nun"
i
From the tribe of Ephraim
a) You may not
recognize this tribe among the twelve sons. This is due to the fact
that Joseph did not have a tribe. Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph’s
sons. They were able to establish tribes in their names.
b) There are still only twelve tribes even counting Ephraim and
Manasseh since they
were considered half tribes. They took the place of Joseph (1/2 + 1/2
= 1 whole).
What:
a. First introduced
to Joshua as a General who gathered the armies of Israel
(Exodus 17:8-13).
b. In the book of
Numbers Joshua is called the assistant of Moses (Numbers 11:28)
c. Joshua was called
to spy out Canaan (Numbers 13:1-16)
d. He brought a good
report (Numbers 14:6-9). e. He became the leader of Israel
(Deuteronomy 31:23).
Where:
a. A leader of Israel's
Armies (Exodus 17:8-13).
b. Called to be a spy (
Numbers 13:1-16)
c. A faithful assured
answer (Numbers 14:6-9)
d. Receives a promise
of entrance to the land (Numbers 14:26-30)
e. Inaugurated as
leader of the people (Deuteronomy 31:23)
f. Joshua leads Israel
in triumph over Jericho (Joshua 6)
g. Joshua leads Israel
in triumph over Ai (Joshua 8)
h. Joshua dies (Joshua
24:29)
i. Steven mentions
Joshua ( Acts 7:45)
j. The Hebrew writer
mentions Joshua (Hebrews 4:8)
When:
a. We are told that
Joshua died at the age of 110.
i.
The scriptures do not declare Joshua's age when he was called to
serve.
ii. Some have suggest
that his 110 years encompassed the time from his birth to a point some
27 or 28 years after Israel entered the land.
a)This would place his birth approximately 1322 B.C. and his death
then approximately 1212 B.C.
Why:
a. Joshua was a valiant
man for God.
i.
He waged the battles of his life knowing that God was his strength and
power (Numbers 14:8).
b. His example of
standing for God in the face of the majority is lesson to us all
(Joshua 24:15).
Caleb
Who:
a. Meaning of the name
Caleb is, "dog" (Some have suggested , "slave")
b. Caleb was the son of
Jephunneh from the tribe of Judah.
c. Caleb was the fellow
spy with Joshua who stood by faith and declared they could defeat the
nations in the and.
What:
a. The most
significant happening associated with Caleb is he was called to be a
spy for Israel (Numbers 1 3:6)
b. He returned from
spying with a good report (Numbers 13:30)
Where:
a. Called to be a spy
(Numbers 13:6)
b. Returned with a good
report (Numbers 13:30)
c. Blessed with a
promise of entrance to the land (Numbers 14:26-30)
d. Receives Hebron as
his own land (Joshua 14:13-15).
When:
a. Caleb was 40 when
the spies were sent into the land (Joshua 14:7)
i.
We are not told when or where Caleb died.
Why:
a. Caleb stood with God
(Number 14:30)
1.
He knew that God would see them through.
Rahab
Who:
a. Meaning: Storm.
b. Rahab was a
prostitute.
i. Some commentators
have tried to suggest that Rahab was actually an inn keeper of Tavern
operator. This however does not fit the original language and the
descriptions of here role as found in the scriptures.
a) Once the
commentators are hard pressed to prove the validity of Rahab being an
innocent inn keeper they then make attempts to justify the spies in
their visit to that house of ill-repute.
ii. We should not
read anything into the record that is not there and we should also not
be shocked that God could see a heart of faith in a sinner.
What:
a. Rahab dwelt in Jericho a stronghold on the southern Jordan
Valley area of Canaan.
b. She met and
concealed two Israelite spies,
c. She aided their
escape from the walled city of Jericho
d. She and her family
were spared when Jericho was destroyed.
e. She was allowed to
enter among the Israelites and she even married a prominent Israelite
and her son Boaz is in the direct lineage of Christ.
Where:
a.. The spies find shelter at the house of Rahab (Joshua 2:1).
b. Rahab diverts the
attention of the authorities away from the spies (Joshua 2:4-5)
c. Rahab speaks
faithfully of the Israelites God and knows that He is able to
throw down the mighty
city in which she dwells (Joshua 2: 8-11)
d. Rahab asks to be
saved from the destruction (Joshua 2:12-14).
e. Rahab allows the men
to escape the city through her window in the wall (Joshua 2:15-16)
f. Rahab's family
spared from the destruction (Joshua 6:15-21).
g. Rahab's family
allowed to dwell among the Israelites (Joshua 6:22-25)
h. Matthew records
the genealogy of Christ and mentions Rahab the wife of Salmon and
mother of Boaz (Matthew 1:5)
i.
The Hebrew writer mentions Rahab among the heroes of faith (Hebrews
11:31)
j. James mentions Rahab's works of
faith (James 2:25)
When:
a. Rahab was alive after the Israelites entered the land.
The best estimate place their entrance between 1240 B.C. and 1200 B.C.
—the latter part of the thirteenth century B.C.
Why:
a. Rahab was a sinner who feared God.
1. She recognized the
power of God among the Israelites and understood this was not just
some idolatrous god.
b. Her works of faith
are examples to us.
